Loading apparatus



f. L. CAYt.

LUADING APPARATUS. APBLlcAloNflLED APR. 29, 1921.

Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

F. L. CAYE.

LOADING APPARATUS.

APPLVlcATloN HLED APR. 29, 19erl Patented Sept. 5, 1922 4 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

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F. L. CAYE.

LOADING APPARATUS. v AePLlcATloN FILED APR.29, |921.

Patented Sept. 5, 1922.-

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Patented Sept.. 5, i922.

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'LOADNG APPARATUS.

Application filed April 29, 1921. Serial No. 465,390.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that l, FRED L. CAYE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Becker and State oi Minnesota, have invented certainv new and usetul Improvements in Loading Appara-` tus, of which the following is a specifica'- tion.

The invention appertains to improvements in loading apparatus or machines, and has forits principal'object to provide fora self-propelled type of the same adapted for universal use in effecting the loading of various materials from the ground level, or from points aboveor below the ground level as may be desired or necessary.

Another important object of the invention is to provide for a loading inachine of the character mentioned, and onewhich is capable of an excavating or digging operation, as in the forming of ditches, trenches or the like, or for` the otherwise loosening.

up othard packed or solidified material from piles, such as coal, gravel, manure, sand an the like, in addition to the loading of t e dug or loosened dirt or material directly onto the vehicles to be loaded.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the inventionv resides .in the certain novel and useful construction and arrangement of parts as will ,be'hereinaiter more fully described, set forth in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying dra-wings, in which:-'`

Figure 1 is a side elevation ot the preferred embodiment ot theI apparatus or ina--y chine, y

, Fig. I2 is a top plan view of the same showing the conveyor mechanism per se,

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of thewheeled truck frame `with the conveyor mechanism and digging apparatus removed'thereirom, Fig. 4 is .sa vertlcal transverse section taken on thelnefl-/toffFig; 3,

Fig. 5 is a. perspective view 'ot one of the' interchangeable, excavatlng or scrapingL shovels of the excavating mechanism,

l Fig. 6 is a top plan'viewl of the excavating apparatus perse, y

Fig. 7 is averticallongitudinal section taken on the line 7;-7 ofv Fig. 6, Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal section 4taken on the 1ine.88 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a vertical 'transverse .section taken on the line 94-9 of Fig. 6, and',

Fig.l 10 is a verticai transverse section 4taken on the line 10-10 of Fig.l 8.

Referring tothe drawing, wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts in the several views thereof, the numeral 10 indicates anelongated sub stantially rectangular truck iramewhich is mounted on a front wheeled steering truck 11 and a rear wheeled driving truck 12,

.the steering of the frontwheeled truck 11 being eHected in any usual manner, or, as shown, by means vot flexible elements or cables 13' connecting, at one et their ends, the opposite ends of the truck anlegen at 14, and at'their other ends a winding shaftvl journaled transversely of the frame 10, which shaft 15 is to be rotated 'trom one side and outwardly 'ofthe latter by means of a vhand crank 16, while the rear' truck 12 has its trac-tionwheels driven through the rnedium of a sprocket '17, on the axle thereof, which is, in turn, driven bymeans of a sprocket chain 18 connting a sprocket 19 carried on a drive shaft 20, which is'jour naled transversely of the truck frame 10. The shaft 20 is ladapt-ed to be connected or disconnected from a l driven sprocket 21, looselymounted on the same, through the medium of a clutch mechanism 22, the movable element of which is arrangedv to he properly manipulated troni a point at the side of the truck. frame 10 by means of a pvoted bell -cranklever The sprocket 2l is driven by means of a sprocket chain 24 from a sprocket 25 keyed on apower distributing shaft 2S, 'which is journaled in transversely spaced standards 2? rising at opposite sides of the upper faces ot the longitudinally extending' bars ofthe truck frame 10. The power Ydistribruting shaft 26 is drivenv throughs. clutch mechanismv 28 from a sprocket 29, which, in turn, is driven by a sprocket chain 30 leading' to and connecting .a sprocket on the power shaft of an engine or motor .32, the clutch mechanism to the same side of the truck-trame 10, from which the steering crank 16 and the clutch lever v23, are manipulatedy The engine or motor 32 is suitably secured in position on` face of the rear end of the truck frame 10.

-for its manipulation for the raisin Pivotally mounted, as at 35, on the for-` ward end of the truck frame 10, and` at a point approximately on its transverse center, is a conveyor frame 36 which inclines upwardly of the front end of the truck frame 10 and rearwardly over a minor portion of the forward end thereof, and has journaled transversely of its opposite ends a pair lof rollers 37 and 38 on which is carried an endless conveyor belt 39, the opposite sides of the conveyor frame35 being provided with outwardlyV inclined plates 40 rising above the upper face of and to either side of the conveyor belt 39, whereby to prevent side discharge ofthe material in its passage up-` wardly of the latter. The upper vend of the conveyor frame 36 is disposed in overlapping relation with respect to a second conveyor frame 41 which extends to a point beyondthe rear end of the truck frame 10, and has journaled transversely of its opposite ends a pair of'rolle'rs 42 and 43, on which is carriedl an endless belt conveyor 44, the opposite sides of the frame 41 being provided with plates 45 yrising above the upper face of the conveyor belt 4 4 to prevent the side discharge of material therefrom in its travel on the latter from the conveyor belt 39. The forward end of the conveyor frame 41 is supported fromthe rear end of the conveyor frame 36 by means of oppositely disposed plates or hangers 46 which are enaged at their opposite ends on the shafts of the rollers 38 and 42, while extending rearwardly from the sides of the conveyor frame 36, and connecting the opposite ends of the shaft of the roller 38 are a pair of brace bars 47 which connect the conveyor Aframe 4l at points beyond the transverse center thereof, as at 48. Depending Afrom the opposite sides and inwardly of the rear upper end of the conveyor frame 36 are a pair of supporting'bars 49, which are pivoted to the frame 36, as at 50, and extend downwardly at'- opposite sides of the truck frame 10 and have their lower ends formed to provide elongated slotways 51 engaged o ver the projecting ends of a shaft 52, which is journaled transversely of the .truck frame 10, and racks 53,. are formed at one side of the slotways 51, and arranged in mesh with pinions 54 carried on the complemental ends of the shaft52, a hand crank 55 beingse.- cured on the projectinglend of the shaft 52 and y lowering movements of the conveyor rames 36 and 41 and from the same side of the truck frame 10 as the other of the several manually operated lever and hand cranksy as hereinbefore stated. A pivoted dog 56 is cooperative withl one of thepinions 54 for holding the shaft 52 from retrograde movement, after the rotation of the same and the pinions carried thereby in either direction.

Connecting thebars 49 with the adjacentend of the conveyor frame 41 is a pair of bars 57 and the samel are adjustable by means of a series of openings 58 being formed therein for selective engagement Iwith the securing pins 59 connecting them to the bars 49, and this adjustment is to be made correspondingly-with the adjustment of the brace bars 47 at their points of connection 49 with the frame 41, a .series of openings 60 being provided in the opposite side bars of the'.y

latter frame for the selective engagement therein of theisecuring pins 48' carriedby the bars 47 whereby the angular inclination of the conveyor frame141 may be varied with respect to vthe conveyor frame '36.

Extending forwardly of the truck frame 10', to either side ofthe conveyor frame 3 6, and pivoted on the outwardly projecting ends of a shaft'61, which is journaled on the transverse center of thelatter, is a, lpair of bars 62 which rigidly 'connect at their forward ends to the inner ends of the upperportion of an excavator frame or Ahead- 63,

and inclining downwardly from the opposite ends of the shaft 61, are a secondset of bars 64 which are rigidly connected at their for- 1 ward ends to the lower inner end of the excavator frame or head 63. "Journaled transversely of the upper rear portion of the digger frame or head 63 isV a shaft 65, from which is dependingly supported a s'eries of links 66, which 'pivotally connect as elements of the toothed or forked form of the same, as indicated at 69', and the inner of these elements in the form' of the shovel orscrapers, as indicated at 71, whereby the blades 69. eil'ect an 'excavating and-loosening action on the material to'be loaded, and the blades 71 a feeding action of the loose material inwardly of the head or frame 63 and ontoithe lower end of the conveyor belt 39. Journaled transversely of the lower forward end of the excavator frame .63 is a crank shaft 72, and yon each of thecrankv arms 73 thereof is journaled one of the( excavating arms 68. yThe several crank arms 73 bein offset one equidistantly from! the other c rrespondingly for the number of -excavator arms used, or, as shown, 90 apart for4 the four supporting arms 68 employed in the present instance. For varying the angular relation" of -the excavator frame 63 with respect to the conveyor frame 36, and.'

correspondingly with 'the angular 'adjustkiogi f ment of the lat-ter with respectto the truck vframe 10, a superstructure 74 isA provided on the upper-part of the excavator head or frame 63 and from the transverse bar 75 thereof, a pair of flexible elements or cables 76 are extended rearwardly of the excavator head o r frame 63 and are wound on a shaft 77 journaled in brackets 7 8 disposed at opposite sides of the conveyor frame 36, and on one ofthe projected ends of this shaft 77 is provided a hand crank 79 for rotating the same for the raising and lowering movements of the excavator frame, a ratchet 80 being also provided on the shaft end and having a spring tensioned pawl'81 pivoted on the frame 36 for cooperation therewith to prevent retrograde movement of the shaft,

77, after the excavator framey 63 has been properly adjusted. Depending from and coextensive with the opposite sides of the excavator frame 63 are a pair of side plates 82,. which are pivoted to the latter, as at 83, at the forward end thereof, and these plates are each provided with arcuate slotways 84: and 85 engaged over the crank shaft 72 and the bolt 86, respectively, carried by the ex# v cavator head or frame 63, and this arrangementallows for free movement of the plates correspondingly with the action of the excavating element 69 with respect to the material being dug or loosened for loading purposes, and also correspondinglyY for adjustments of the excavator mechanism as a'l whole. Inclining upwardly from the rear ends of the plates 82 are a pair of bars 87 which are connected at their upper ends by means of a transversely extending rod 88, between which and an eye 89, on the excavator head or frame 63, is connected a coiled spring 90 normally tending to tension' the plates 82 in a downward direction, the bars 87. being pivoted to the vupper digger frame sup rt bars 62, as at 91, for such purpose. eferring to Fig. 7, it is to be here noted that the supporting. arms 68 are each made up ofl apair of spaced parallel members 68', and, that the excavating elements 69 and 71 `are formed with shank portions 69 and 71', respectively which are fitted between themembers 68, and are bolted in position therebetween as shown.

For applying power fromthe driven shaft 26 on the truck frame 10, to the conveyor and excavator mechanisms, the same is provided at its opposite ends with sprockets 92 which are connected by sprocket chains 93 to comy y plementalsprockets 94 carried'on the opposite ends of the shalt 61, whichis carried 'medially of thc conveyor frame 3.6, as here- Keyed on the opposite end of the roller shaft 38 is a sprocket 101 which is connected, by means of a sprocket chain '102, to a sprocket 103, keyed on the adjacent end of theroller shaft 42, upon the rotation` of which the conveyor belt le is driven in a direction correspondingly to that of the' conveyor belt 39,

and in a manner to discharge material from the latter outwardly of the rear end of the conveyor frame 4:1 and at a distance in rear of the rear end of the truck frame l0. At' the opposite end of the shaft 6l to that on which the beveled gear 95 is keyed, is mounted a sprocket 104- which is connected, by means of a sprocket chain 105, to a sprocket 106 carried atene end of the crank shaft 72 on the digger head or fra-Ine 63.

In the operation ofthe loading apparatus or machineV thus provided for, upon the starting up of the engine or motor 32, and throwing in the clutchv mechanism 22, the traction wheels of the rear truck 12 will be driven 'for the desired forward travel of the machine to and from the loading point, or during the loading operation, as for-keeping the digger head well overthe material to be loaded. By throwing in the clutch mechanism 28, the conveyor belts 39 and @twill be driven, and' also the supporting arms 68, the" latter being reciprocated vertically within the excavatorhead' or frame'63, the bladeV 69 acting; to chop downwardly to loosen the material to be loaded and throwing the loos-v ened material inwardly of the head or frame 63, between the side plates 82, where the rearwardly ydisposed of the blades 7l will also function to draw and throw the mateice' rialfrom the forward blade further backnoted that this foot piece or ground plate 107 extends well within. the rear end ofthe excavator head or frame 63, and under the hindermost blade of the supporting arm, which are inoperative for the actual excavating of the material, and also the side plates 4:0 of the conveyor frame 36 extend for a distance alongside of the foot lpiece or ground plate for direct-ing the material upward of the conveyor belt 39. As .festas the material. is shoved onto the foot piece 107, it is caught up by the conveyor belt 39 and is carried upwardly of the frame 36, and passed from the upper end thereo onto the conveyor belt el, which carries it to the rear conveyor terial therefrom, a loadingconveyor proj ectbelt 4A which carries it to the end of the conveyor frame 4l, and discharges the material rearwardly thereof, where it may be deposited into any desired form of receptacle, wagon, car or the like.

It is well understood that, while the appara-tus or machine has been described and illustrated in specific terms and detail, various modifica-tions of the same, changes in the forms and sizes of the parts thereof, the substitut-ion of mechanical equivalent one for the other, may be resorted to 'without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the claims appended hereto.V

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In an apparatusY for the purpose set forth, a self-propelled truck, an excavating mechanism suspended forwardlyof and from one end of said truck and including excavating and shoveling elements to excavate and shovel rearwardly the excavated material, an elevating conveying mechanism mounted on the forward end of saidtruck and projecting rearwardlyfrom below the rear of said mechanism for receiving ma-` ing rearward] from the rear end of the said elevating mec anism, means for propelling the truck, operative drive connections between said'means and said mechanisms, and means for adjusting said excavating mechanism in a vertical direction, and means for adjusting said elevating conveyor mechanism at angle inclinations with respect to said excavator mechanism and truck.

and elevating conveying mechanism mounted on the forward end of said truck and proj ect.

ing rearwardly from below the rear of said mechanism for receiving material therefrom,l

a'loading conveyor projecting rearwardly from the rear end of the said elevating mechanism, means for propelling theftruck, operative drive connections between said means and said mechanisms, and means for adjusting said excavating mechanism in a vertical direction, and means for adjusting said elevating conveyor mechanism at angle inclinations with respect to said excavator mechanism and truck, and means for adjusting said loading conveyor angiilarly with respect to said conveyor mechanism.

3. 1n an apparatus for the purpose -set forth, a portable truck, driving means therelvfor mounted thereon, a power distributing shaft journaled transversely of the 'truck and operatively connected with said driving means, means for transmitting power from Ahaving the forward end thereof positioned undertherear of said mechanism for receiving the material'excavated, a loading conveyor having one end extended below said elevating conveyor, extending rearwardly thereof and adapted to receive ma- "terial therefrom to be loaded, and means for transmitting power from said shaft to said excavator means and said elevating and lowering conveyors.

. 4. A n apparatus for the purpose set forth,

comprising a portable truck, an excavator frame suspended forwardly of and from one e'nd of said truck, pivoted supporting arms extending longitudinally of said frame and arranged in parallelism, links depending fromv and pivoted to said frame and pivotally connected to the rear ends of said arms, a crank shaft extending transversely of said frame forwardly thereof andv having the .cranks thereof connected to said supporting arms, excavating elements carried at the forward ends of said arms, shoveling elements supported by said arms rearwardly of the excavating elements, a conveyor mechanism extended from said excavator frame and over and mountedon said truck, a loading conveyor projecting rearwardly from said conveyor mechanism, and operating means for the truck, said operating means being operably connected with said supporting arms and said conveyor mechanism and loading conveyor for operating them.

o, In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, a' portable truck, excavating elements arranged forwardly of the truck, shoveling elements arranged forwardl of the truck and at the rear of the excavating elements for shoveling rearwardly the lmaterial excavated, means for suspending said elements from said truck, a conveyor mechanism supported by the truck and having its forward endsV provided with a foot piece ar anged in close proximity with said slioveliiig elements for receiving the excavated` material shoveled thereby, a loading conveyor associated with the said conveyor foi' receiving material therefrom, driving means carried by the truck for said elements, conveyors and truck, means extended from the truck for adjusting said elements, and means mounted on the truck for adjusting said conveying and said loading conveyor.

In testimony whereof, 1 afiix my signature hereto.

FRED L. CAYE. 

